Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hinokami Flames

Violent Entertainment

It was morning, but something was completely off. One of the staff of the Kyogoku house was missing, and it was their newest worker.

"Missing?" the Kyogoku house owner questioned.

"Yes." an attendant answered. "Her name's Kanao, the new girl with the butterfly hairpin. After she was knocked out, we brought her back to her room to sleep. Next thing we know, she disappeared. Should I search the house for her?"

"Unnecessary. I guess one punishment is good enough for her to commit Ashinuke."

"Master you can't mean that!"

"Just get out! I do not want Kanao's name to be mentioned ever again! Spread that order across the entire house! I can't let anything upset Orian Warabihime. And that includes anyone who gets on her bad side. Mainly Kanao, Hinatsuru, and Omitsu..."

Elsewhere, on the rooftops, Tanjiro, Nezuko, Inosuke, Zenitsu, and Genya were meeting up to discuss the information that they gathered.

"Ashinuke?" Zenitsu repeated after learning what Tanjiro and Nezuko have said.

"Yes." Nezuko answered.

"That would be the perfect cover." Genya assumed. "If you guys didn't get into contact with Uzui's wives, then it's possible the demon saw through their cover." He looks at Tanjiro and glare at him with jealousy. "So, did you three happen to find a demon?"

"THERE WAS ONE AT MY HOUSE!!!" Inosuke shouted. But the other were finding it hard to believe him. "You don't believe me? THERE IS ONE!! IT LOOKED LIKE THIS!!" But he was just waving his arms around like a crazy person.

"Yeah. I believe you." Tanjiro said with hesitation.

"YOU'RE NOT LOOKING! IT'S LIKE THIS!"

"Let's just wait for Uzui and Kanao to arrive then we can tell them everything we know."

"BUT I KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!! AND NONE OF YOU ARE BELIEVING ME!!!"

"Kanao isn't coming."

They all look to see Tengen looking over Yoshiwara with a face of failure.

"What do you mean Kanao's not coming?" Zenitsu asked concernedly."

"I made a big mistake bringing you all out here. I wanted to save my wives, but that led me to make terrible choices. and because of that, one of our own is now missing. I haven't been able to contact her since last night. Hashibira, and Kamado's sister, leave the district. If there's an Upper Rank here, then you're no match for. The mission will consist of me, Zenitsu, Shinazugawa, and Tanjiro."

"But we fought against six eyes and survived!" Inosuke exclaimed.

"That's all the more reason why you can't beat an Upper Rank. The Mugen Train mission was proof enough that can't last an hour against Muzan Kibutsuji's most powerful demons." He looks back to his comrades. There's no shame in running away. You survive to fight another day. That's victory. I won't let you squander this chance." Tengen swiftly vanishes from the group.

"Does he not trust us to have his back because we're the lowest rank?" Nezuko wondered with less confidence.

"We've all increased our ranks. Watch." Inosuke flexes his arm. "Show your rank." the Kanoe rank appears on his hand. "This is proof that we're true Demon Slayers. It's called Wisteria Engraving."

"What?" Genya asked confused.

"On the mountain, did you feel the tickling on your hand as you were leaving?"

"I guess someone with animal instincts would understand." Zenitsu wondered.

"We can't feel down about ourselves." Tanjiro said. "Once it's nightfall, we'll meet up at the Ogimoto House. But wait for us. It's dangerous going alone."